PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Aug 19, CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) says a rupture in the fire suppression system on the sixth floor of the administration building , has resulted in significant damage to several secured records, including firearm users licence (FUL).
The TTPS said that the incident on Tuesday occurred following a series of power outages and fire alarm activations across multiple floors of the building.
“The suppression system, designed to safeguard critical records in the event of fire, ironically became the source of damage when its waterline failed. Although the affected files were stored in a designated secure room, the flooding rendered many physical records irrecoverable.”
The issuance of FUL by the TTPS has become a major public debate issue here with former police commissioner, Gary Griffith, saying that he is making “no apology for providing citizens with the opportunity to protect and defend themselves” after a retired Court of Appeal judge described as “ a thriving well-oiled white collar criminal enterprise,” the issuance of the FUL.
Retired Appeal Court judge, Stanley John, had been appointed by the former Police Service Commission (PSC) to enquire into allegations of corruption in the issuance of FUL.
In his report, he recommended a police probe into several matters raised during his investigation and that “the errant persons brought to justice and not be allowed to go free.
“My investigation leaves me with the firm view of the existence within the TTPS of a highly dysfunctional system for processing applications for FULs and other related licenses/permits. The system is replete with opportunities for illegal, irregular and other corrupt practices,” John said.
In recent times, former police commissioner, Erla Harewood-Christopher, had been taken to court with the applicants seeking judicial review of the unjustifiable, untenable and unreasonable delay of the decision-making process of the CoP for FULs..
Harewood-Christopher had argued that the delays were not unreasonable and due to the backlog of 25,000 applications.
In its statement, the TTPS said that digital records of each FUL application exists “however, they do not include digital copies of the original submitted documents.
“This is due to the fact that the new digital application system, which is scheduled for rollout in the coming weeks, was not in place at the time those applications were made.”
The statement said Commissioner of Police, Allister Guevarro, “is currently examining the damaged files, following which a list of those destroyed in the mishap, will be published and persons will be asked to contact the Firearms Permit Unit, to assist in the reconciliation and recreation of their records.
“For privacy and security reasons, names and addresses of applicants will be withheld and only FUL File numbers will be utilised,” the statement said, adding “that digital copies of the affected HR and Administrative documents were backed up on its servers. The Service is actively accelerating the digitization of the FUL application process to enable secure online document uploads and prevent future vulnerabilities”.
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